Adjustable guide on heel scouring machine



March 29, 1949. w, GOODWIN 2,465,528

ADJUSTABLE GUIDE ON HEEL SCOURING MACHINE Filed NQV. 9, 1946' g 0%; i iif' in r 00 57a Patented Mar. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE GUIDE ON HEEL SCOURING MACHINE Willis R. Goodwin, Maiden, Mass. Application November 9, 1946, Serial No. 708,964

3 Claims. 1

This invention relates to guiding means for a heel as its flanks are being scoured on a scourin wheel, particularly the kind of scouring wheel which'is used to smooth the flanks of such heels as are mounted on mens and childrens shoes. The heels of this kind are relativelylow and have flanks which are substantially perpendicular to the bottom face of the heel. The scouring of such heels is usually done after the heel member has been secured to the shoe. Heretofore the scouring operation has been performed by a skilled operator who holds the shoe in his hands and presents the flanks of the heel to the rotating abrasive wheel. As the heel is then held against the wheel, the operator swings the toe of the shoe around so that the entire flank surface of the heel will progressively come into contact with and be smoothed by the wheel. Care must be exercised lest the edge of the wheel touch a portion of the upper adjacent to the heel, otherwise the shoe will be damaged.

According to the present invention, guide members are mounted adjacent to the periphery of the scouring wheel, these members being adapted to prevent any touching of the shoe upper on the wheel. By the use of such guide members, a comparatively unskilled worker can safely and rapidly scour heel flanks on the scouring wheel without injuring the shoe uppers.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following description thereof, and to the drawing, of which:

Figure 1 is an end elevational view of a scouring wheel with guide elements associated therewith;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same;

Figure 3 is a fragmentary portion of Figure 2 showing a different adjustment of the guide plate.

As shown in the drawing, an abrasive wheel is mounted on a rotatable shaft [2 which is journalled in a bearing l4, the latter being mounted on or a part of a suitable supporting standard such as is common in the art. The wheel ID in a heel scouring machine is usually a few inches in diameter and its periphery is about an inch or so wide. Wheels of this type are used for securing or smoothing the flanks of relatively low heels such as are found on mens and childrens shoes, the flanks on such heels being substantially perpendicular to the bottom faces of the heels.

According to the invention, a guide plate 20 is mounted adjacent to the periphery of the wheel I0, this guide plate being of any suitable size and shape to be abutted by the bottom face of a heel to be scoured. The plate 20 is in a plane parallel to theouter face of the wheel I0 and offset therefrom by a distance substantially equal to the height of the heel to be scoured. Thus, when a heel 22 on a shoe 24 is held with its bottom face against the plate 20, the upper edge of the heel will be flush with the outer face of the wheel and it is evident that when the heel is held properly against the plate 20, the shoe upper cannot come in contactwith the wheel. For the support of the plate 20 it may be fixed on the end of a horizontal rod 30 which extends through a hole in a bar 32. The rod 30 is adjustably fixed to the bar 32 by a setscrew 34 or any other suitable means such that the rod can be axially and angularly adjusted. The bar may be secured to the bearing M by being provided with an aperture large enough to fit over a hub portion 36 of the bearing member, the bar being firmly secured to this hub by one or more set screws 38 so that the bar extends rigidly in a radial direction from the hub 36 and is in a plane parallel to the plane of the scouring wheel I0. By adjusting the rod 30 longitudinally, the plate 20 may be ofiset from the outer face of the wheel II] as required to accommodate heels of different heights. Figure 3 shows the plate 20 adjusted for engagement by a heel 40 which has a greater height than the heel 22.

A second rod 42 projects from the bar 32 parallel to the rod 30. This rod may extend through a hole in the bar 32 and be adjustable therein both longitudinally and angularly, being secured in any position of adjustment by a set screw 44. The rod 42 acts as a support for a guide element 46 which may be in the form of a roller to be engaged by the flank of a heel when the bottom face of the heel abuts the face of the plate 20. For the support of th guide element 46, the rod 42 may be provided with a transverse extension 50 which is adjustable with respect to the rod 42 and which is provided with an end piece 52, the roller 46 being rotatably mounted on the end piece 52. As indicated in Figure 1, the roller 46 is preferably a short distance below the plate 20 so as to be conveniently engaged by the flank of the shoe heel as it is being scoured. When the toe portion of the shoe is swung back and forth to present all of the flank surface of the heel to the abrading wheel [0, the bottom face of the heel is held against the plate 20 and the flank rides on and is guided by the roller 46. These guiding elements facilitate the operation of presenting the flank of the heel to the abrasive surface so that an unskilled operator can scour tatable in said bearing, and a heel scouring wheel mounted on said shaft, a bar adjustably mounted on said bearing to project therefrom in a plane parallel to that of the Wheel, a longitudinally adjustable rod projecting from said bar parallel to the axis of said wheel, a guide plate mounted on said rod and adjustably supported thereby adjacent to the periphery of the wheel and a plane 'o'fiset fromtheeouter face of the wheel by a distance equal to the height of the heel to be scoured, a second rod projecting from 1 said bar parallel to the first said rod and longisaid hole and longitudinally adjustable therein to adjust the position of the plate in a direction parallel to said axis, and a support element for a heel below said plate arranged to be engaged by the flank of a heel as it is scoured-.7 I

2. In combination with heel scouring' wheel and a supporting frame therefor, a guide plate adjacent to the edge of{ said wheel and ofiset from: the plane of the: outer faoe thereot, meanssupporting said. plate onsaid. frame, said supporting means being. adjustable to shift said plate ina direction parallel 'to the axis of said wheel so that said ofiset w'ill'be equal-to the height of the heel. to be scoured,and a-'guide element adjustably supported; by said means below said. plate in a position to be engaged by the flan-k of a heel to be scoured when the bottom of the heel engages against said plate. I I

3; In combination with afbe'aring, a shaft ro tud-in-all-y adjustable, and a roller supported by said second rod below said plate in a position to be engaged by the flank of a heel as it is being secured.

WILLIS R. GOODWIN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent":

UNITED STATES PATENT$ Number Country Date Great Britain a.-. May 29-, 1909 

